Fluid heater



H. J. KERR FLUID HEATER July 7, 1931.

Filed Jan. 11. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENToR 7 ,b ATTORNEYS July 7, 193.1.

H. J. KERR FLUID HEATER Filed Jan.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H. J. KERR FLUID HEATER July '7, 1931.

's sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 1l. 1928 INVENTOR mRNEYS Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES HOWARD J'. KERR, OF WESTFIELD,

PATENT OFFICE NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR y'IO THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY,

.A CORPORATION O'F NEW JERSEY FLUID HEATER I Application filed January 11, 1928. vSerial No. 245,972.

Vhile t-he fluid heater embodying my ,invention 1s particularly applicable as an economizer. it will be umlerstood that it isnot,

limited to such use. 4

My invention will best be umlerstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side view. partially in section, ot a fluid heater embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion oi' Fig. 1 taken on thel line 2 2 of' Fig. 1; Fig. 2% is an end elevation taken along the line 3 3 ot Fig. 1; F1g..1rs a fragmentary vert-ical section taken on the line 4 4' ot Fig.v

1 and showing a portion ot one of the baiiles in side elevation Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side View, partially in section, illustrating the baiile construction andthe joints used for I holding together the adjacent ends of tubular elements: Pig. 6 is an end View. partially in section on the line 6 6 ot Fig. 5, illustrating the construction by which end to end tubular sections are held in abutting engagement; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a modiiication, the upper portion being an end view of a part oi' the fluid hea-ter, and the lower poi'- tion.- a transverse sectional view; and Fig. 8

is a plan view taken on the line. 8 8 of Fig.'7. Like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views.

In the illustrative embodiment oi' my invention, a flue A foi` the gases is deiined by a baiile..

walls 10 and 11 the iirst of which is shown extending upwardly to a wall 12 supported on an I-beam 13. The heater is enclosed by suitable outer casings or panels 11 spaced from the baii'le walls as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The iluid heater embodying my invention preferably comprises an inlet header 15 located at the. lower portion of the heater. and an Outletr header 1G located atl thev upper portion thereof, both oi the headers being shown at the same side of theheater and located between the bailie wall 10 and the associated panel 14.

The fluid heater preferably comprises a plurality of rows of tubes connected to thel inlet and the Outlet headers, the tubes being suitably bent and extending back and forth across the ilue a plurality of times. and the bent ends of the tubes preferably being located between header.

the baiiie or end oi the ated panel 14.

in the embodiment of trated, there are. to each' header, row 17, which is 'shown in Fig. 1. being stra ight where they enter the inlet header 15', and in alignment with the center of the The tubes of the second row 18 are bent at the ends the header 15, the same preferably also entering the header radially as indicated. The tubes of t-he iiuid heater pass through the baiiie walls 10 and 11 in a manner which will be more fully hereinafter described.

In the embodiment of my invention illus-4 trated, the tubes oi the lower row 17 at the right-hand end of Fig. 1 are bent through 1800, and a joint is formed at 19 in the next parallel leg and straight portionsot a given tube and the bent end thu-s forming av U-tube, one oi' the legs of which is provided with a. joint- 19,veach tube heater and the associmy invention ill-ustwo rows of tubes connected thus being mad-e up of a plurality of tubular together by 75 tion thus forming a U-tube with a joint 20 in 30 one leg thereof. The tubes of an outer row lat one end of the fluid heater, for example, at

the left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 1,. become the inner bent tubes at the other, or right-hand end, as will be evident. row 17 and 18 extend back and forth across the flue a plurality of times each forming a plurality of rows, the tubes 17 of the lowermost row, in the embodiment illustrated, communicating with the tubes of the upper row' 90 17, the ends of which entering the outlet header 16 are bent asl indicated in Fig. 1, while the tubes 18a are not bent at their ends.

The joint between two abutting tubes is preferably formed in the manner illustra-ted 95 in Fig. 5. The adjacent ends of two abutting tubular elements are preferably provided with integralupset lugs 21, preferablyat a l slight distance from' the ends of the tubes.

These lugs are preferably formed on opposite l100 the. tubes of the lowermost as at 181 where they enter 50 adjacent the bend, the two The tubes of-each sides of the tubes and extend through a small circumferential distance around the tubes. The tubes are. fastened together by means of flanges or plates 22 having openings to receive the tubes and also provided with notches 211 which pass over the lugs 21, sc that by rotating the plate through a small angle, a bayonet joint is formed between the plates and lugs. Preferably, the abutting end of one of the tubular elements is formed with a spherical or conical external seat as at 24, while the abutting end of the other tubular element is provided with a spherical or conical internal seat as at 25, which engages the spherical seat on the end of the first mentioned tubular element. By uncoupling the joints between tubular elements, they may be withdrawn through the ends of the economizer.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, the plates 22 are arranged side by side, the ends of the plates being narrower than the middle portions thereof. To remove one of the plates 22, it is rotated to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 6, in which position the lugs 21 register with the notches 211, and the plate is then removed axially of the tube. Toreplace a plate 22, itis brought to the dotted line position of Fig. 6 and moved axially of the tube, the notches 211 passing over the lugs 22 to bring the lugs behind the plate which is then rot-ated to the full line position.

In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, joints are formed on alternate tubes at a given end of a given row of tubes, as will be evident from Fig. 7. In this modification of my invention, joints are provided at opposite ends of adjacent tubes.

The baffles 10 and 11 arepreferably formed in the manner best shown in Fig. ,5. The baffle is formed with overlapping lates 26, each plate being provided at its e ges'with recesses 27, which are adapted to fit around the tubes, and so that the plate, which extends across the fluid heater, can be inserted between two rows of tubes and then turned into the position shown in Fig. 5. The ends of the plates are preferably riveted or otherwise secured as at 28, to fixed members 29 (Fig. 4) Two spaced walls formed of overlapping plates are preferably provided as illustrated in Fig. 5, the space between the same being filled with a suitable refractory material 30, such as fire clay. The plates 26 inside the flue and at the left of the baille 10 as viewed in Fig. 5 preferably overlap in shingle or clapboard formation; in other words, the lower portion of a given plate 26` at the left of the baille 10 in Fig. 5 overlaps the upperportion of the nextlower plate on the 'side remote from the refractory lining. By forming the plates in this manner, the tubular portions of the fluid heater passing across the flue may be washed with water, and any water that engages the bales 10 or 11 will readily flow downwardly thereover.

Each row of tubes is preferably supported at a plurality of points, at three points in the embodiment of my invention illustrated, by transverse bars 31, which extend transversely across thel fluid'heater and beneath the rowsof tubes, the 'ends of the bars being received in openings in a vertical channel iron 32 adjacent the side walls, as shown in Fig. 2. By providing joints in the tubes adjacent the bent ends thereof, a tube cleaner can be run through the straight portions of the tubular elements.

When fluid is caused to flow in a upward direction through the fluid illustrated in Fig. 1, the gases are preferably made to flow downwardly through the flue A, in a. single pass in the embodiment illustrated, in order that, a counterow between the gases and the fluid may be secured. Preferably, the planes of inner and outer tubular elements, connected by bentend portions, form an angle with each other as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby permitting relatively close spacing in a staggered arrangement between the tubes of adjacent rows with a radius of curvature for the bends of suchdirnension that they can be readily` formed, and insuring a good heat transfer from the gases to the fluid in the tubes.

Providing two rows through which the fluid flows, gives double the flow area and at the same time reduces the distance that a given particle of water flows in' passing through the economizer as compared with a single path. This arrangement greatly reduces the frictional resistance of the water flowing through the economizer. It will, of course, be understood that the portions of the fluid heater which are subjected to the hottest gases may be made especially heat resisting as by calorizing if desired. In the embodiment illustrated, where the gases are caused to flow downwardly over the fluid heater, the uppermost-'tubes would be subjected to the hottest. gases andmay be calorized or otherwise Itreated, if desired. Furthermore, itwill be understood that suitable soot blowers, which are not illustrated, would be installed for removing vsoot and other deposit from the tubes.

I claim:

1. In combination, a flue, a fluid heater comprising tubes extending transversely of the flue, and a baffle wall extending across the tubes, said baille wall comprising baille plates extending across the flue and overlapping one another with the lower por-tion of each of certain of the baffle plates overlapping the upper outer edge of the next lower baffle plate, the edges of said lates glenerally being provided with recesses adapte partially to surround said tubes.

2. In combination, a flue, a fluid heater eater as comprising tubes extending transversely of said flue, and `a baille wall comprising spaced baille plates forming spaced walls extending across the tubes, each wall comprising a plurality of plates extending across the flue, the lower portion of each of certain of the baille plates overlapping the upper outer portion of the next lower baille plate, the edges of said plates being provided with recesses adapted partially to surround said tubes, the ends of said baille plates being secured to fixed members located at the sides of the flue.

3. In combination, a flue, a iluid heater comprising tubes extending transversely of Said flue, a baille wall comprising spaced baille plates forming spaced walls extending across thel tubes, each wall comprising a. plurality of plates extending across the flue, the lower portion of each of certain ot the baille plates overlapping the upper outer portion of the next lower baille plate, and a iilling of hardened plastic material between said plates and surrounding said tubes, the edges of said plates'being provided with recesses adapted partially to surround said tubes, the ends ofsaid baille plates being secured to fixed members located at the sides of the flue.

4. In a fluid heater comprising tubes arranged in a plurality of horizontal rows, a baille wall extending across av plurality `of tubes and comprising baille plates overlapping one another with the lower portion of a given baille plate overlapping the upper outer edge' of the next lower baille plate, the edges of said plates being provided with recesses adapted partially to surround said tubes, the

"ends of said baille plates being secured to fixed members located at the sides of the flue.

5. In a iluid heater, a pluralit of U-tubes with the two legs of the tubes orming two rows, alternate legs only of a given row adjacent the bent ends being provided with Joints.

6. In a fluid heater, a pluralit of U-tubes with the two legs of the tubes orming two rows, alternate legs of a given row adjacentl the bent ends being provided with Joints, each joint comprising lugs formed on the tubes, and plates iltted over the tubes and each forming a bayonet joint with the lugs,`

thereby permitting rotation of the plates with respect to the lugs.

. 7 In combination, a heat exchange device comprising a plurality of tubes adapted to be washed and a. wall associated with said tubes and contacted on one side with wash water therefrom, said wall comprising overlapping plates on the side of the wall so con* tacted by the wash water, the lower portion of each ot certain of the plates overlapping the upper edge of the next lower plate on the washed side.

8. In combination, a

flue, a iluid heater, inlet and outlet connections therefor, a plurality of rows of tubes connected to said inlet connection, the tubes of each row extending back and forth across said flue a plurality of times to form tubes of two given rows being joined to the tubes of two adjacent rows by bent sect-ions of diilerent radii, the planes of the legs of the tubes having the larger bends making an angle with the planes of the legs ofthe tubes having the smaller bends, whereby the legs of the two sets of tubes may be arranged in staggered relation.

9. In combination, a heat-exchange device comprising a plurality of tubes adapted to be washed and a. wall located with reference to said tubes to be contacted on one side with wash water therefrom, said wall comprising overlapping plates on the side of the wall so contacted by wash water, the lower ,portion of each of certain of the plates overlapping the upper edge of the next lower plate on the washed side.

a plurality of rows, the 

